That sucks. Have you tried the stethoscope or wooden handled screwdriver trick? Does the noise go away with higher rpms? Have you checked the oil pressure?

 

Im pretty sure its a lifter. I didnt realize those were 25k wear items, I guess? According to the dash gauge the oil pressure is fine. the bike doesnt miss or act like the timing is off. The noise appears when the bike is hot. Im guessing when the oil circuit shifts to hot running "mode" a lifter loses pressure and begins to dance. Im only theoretically familiar with hydro lifters.

I checked YT for similar noise complaints thinking that someone must have experienced this before.

These are just about exactly the noise Im hearing

In the second video the fellow finds a lifter with a buggered roller. So thats what Im thinking it is. It looks like another 500 bucks to me S&S lifters plus "Quickee pushrod kit" plus gaskets for the lifter covers.) I could save a few dollars going in through the top. But if I were calculating shop rate as my labor, its just about a wash.

 

Not something you'd do yourself?

 

Eh just feeling a bit discouraged. The bike was cheap, but it wasnt this cheap I'll get after it.

 

Well there are less expensive Lifters and Adjustable Pushrods out there too if your trying to save a buck or two. And as you know, doing the work yourself saves a bundle. And can be quite satisfying!

 

Thanks. Really it isnt the money. I dont mind putting the money into it. Im just cheezed I havent gotten more than a hundred miles out of it and most of the time Ive owned it has been spent figuring out, and then un-****ing, the shops "work" on it. It is a 20 year old bike and I expect there to be stuff that needs attending to. Sure I could have a lifter throw in the towel even without the shop getting involved. All of that plus the learning curve just gets me a bit pissed off. No worries. I'll put on my grown up pants and get back to it.

I do appreciate the information and encouragement

 

I installed the Comp 850 lifters when I added gear drive cams to my '00 Road Glide at 83,000 miles. They were still in there when I got rid of the bike at 170,000 miles last fall.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/c...RoCv4wQAvD_BwE

 

LOL! Those grown up pants should include "due diligence" suspenders. Do your research and read everything you can and watch videos too. Lots if information on the minimum you should do when you pull the cam chest. Hang in there!

 

Alright I ordered up the lifters, quickee pushrod kit, gaskets and assorted bits and bobs. Looks to be a pretty straightforward process. and will even be the first task on this bike that doesnt require me removing the fecking exhaust...again.

 

Update:

Well I am at a loss. I replaced the lifters and pushrods. It already had quickee pushrods (doh) and the lifters seemed alright. No play in the rollers and no real wear. The only oddity was that three had the oilers installed outboard and one was inboard (wtf). I went ahead and replaced the whole works but I wasnt super confident I was solving the problem. And I didnt. When hot it starts making a nasty clatter. Its not a piston slap. I double checked the primary chain to make sure it wasnt slapping around. and screwdriver listening didnt give me a definitive location.

To review:
When cold, it starts on the first button dab.
While cold it runs great.
When the motor gets hot enough for the oil pressure to drop to around 20PSI at idle (according to the dash gauge) the rattle will start and increase like someone slowly turning up a volume ****.
While hot it will immediately start that noise when the engine is started.
The sound is in sync with the engine rpms and does not go away when the RPM is increased
The oil pressure responds accordingly with RPM and doesnt drop too low or go too high

The only thing I can think of at this point is the rocker assembly. end play maybe? oil starvation in the shafts?